"Dugu Shuo," Dugu Bo's voice was low and dangerous, "with your personality, you'd never lift a finger unless there's something in it for you. You come bearing gifts, sharing antidotes so generously,so clearly, you want something. Enough dancing around. Speak."
He wanted to claw back some pride after being forced to accept the antidote formula.
Dugu Shuo's expression turned grave.
"Then I'll be direct, Second Uncle. You left the family long ago, yet still managed to break through to Titled Douluo. That tells me you've acquired a great opportunity. Definietly a fortuitous chance.
I want you to share that chance with the family!"
The words hung heavy in the air.
Dugu Bo's face shifted almost imperceptibly, his eyes flashing in shock.
That was all the confirmation Dugu Shuo needed.
So Feng'er was right.
Dugu Bo's research into poison could not surpass his own. Normally, the higher one's cultivation, the more vicious the backlash of their poison.
How, then, had Dugu Bo managed to suppress it through the Soul Sage and Soul Douluo realms?
Only by some powerful external aid!
A brief glance at Dugu Yan confirmed it. The girl's stunned expression betrayed that she, too, knew of this secret.
"Heh, heh…", Dugu Bo's laugh was low and chilling. "And what has your Poison branch ever done for me?
I reached Titled Douluo without a single resource from the clan. I've long wished every one of you were dead. Do you think that by handing me some antidote, you can make me kneel?"
Dugu Feng, watching from behind, could feel the bitterness rolling off Dugu Bo in waves. This old man really holds a grudge.
But Dugu Shuo didn't flinch.
"Second Uncle, are you still so blinded? Do you truly think the Snake Control line is stronger than Poison Mastery?
Feng'er, at the rank of Soul Elder, defeated Yan, who's nearly at Soul King level. If he were to assassinate instead of duel, he could kill a hundred of him.
And as for me...I am now a ContraSoul Douluo. If I wished to, even a Titled Douluo might fall to my toxins. I revealed the detoxification method because it is my duty as clan head.
But if you refuse to share your fortune with the family…I have the strength to take it by force."
"You dare threaten me?" Dugu Bo shot to his feet, eyes flaring with murderous green light.
"Second Uncle," Dugu Shuo said calmly, "perhaps you've forgotten how powerful poison can be when perfected.
I've been standing in your hall for quite a while now. Tell me...when the fight starts, who do you think will walk out alive?"
His tone was eerily calm.
Dugu Feng's palms were slick with sweat.
He had expected his father to negotiate, to coax the location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well from Dugu Bo.
He hadn't expected this—a direct confrontation!
Then, suddenly, Dugu Yan's body trembled. Her eyelids fluttered, and she collapsed onto the floor.
"Second Uncle," Dugu Shuo said coldly, "my poison...you can't block it. Yan Yan has already been infected. Her first poison flare could erupt at any moment. Let's see if she survives it."
"You—!" Dugu Bo's voice cracked with rage, his eyes blazing like torches. "You dare poison her!? You're insane!"
Fury erupted like a storm.
With a snarl, Dugu Bo raised both hands. A crushing wave of soul power surged out, slamming into Dugu Shuo and Old Snake.
Boom!
They crashed into the wall with a heavy thud, blood spraying from their lips.
But the force that struck toward Dugu Feng was noticeably weaker...Dugu Bo's intent was clear.
He wanted the boy alive.
He knew Dugu Feng was his father's lifeline.
Dugu Feng only smiled.
Two Emerald Dragon Serpents uncoiled from his arms, expanding to two meters in length, circling protectively around him.
The serpents hissed, their scales gleaming, and the next pulse of soul power shattered harmlessly against their barrier.
"Impressive… such pure Nine-Section Jade Snakes!" (T/N " DB doesn't recognise that they have evolved.)
Dugu Bo's pupils shrank.
He, too, possessed this Snake, but compared to Dugu Feng's, his own was garbage.
Dugu Feng steadied himself and said quickly,
"Second Granduncle, when I obtained my third spirit ring, I discovered that the Sunset Forest could be called the Forest of Poisoned Beasts.
The sheer number of venomous soul beasts there rivals even the Star Dou Forest.
Yet you've always lingered near Heaven Dou City…Which means your fortune....your secret...lies in that forest, doesn't it?
The Sunset Forest isn't that vast. There are only a handful of extraordinary places within it. How long do you think you can hide it?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Dugu Bo's expression twisted with murderous intent.
He was right.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—his sacred place—was his greatest secret.
It was his and Yan Yan's survival, his trump card.
And now this brat had guessed it.
Soul power flared again, deadly intent surging—
But Dugu Shuo was already on his feet, blood on his lips and madness in his eyes.
"I warned you, Second Uncle—you can't withstand my poison.
You're already feeling it, aren't you? That tingling under your ribs, the aching in your meridians? Delay any longer, and the toxins you've been suppressing for years will erupt completely.
And Yan Yan, well. she'll experience her first true poison outbreak. You might wound me, but you won't kill me.
Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed eerily through the hall.
A rhombus-shaped scale appeared on his forehead, shining with four-colored light, rippling outward to form a protective barrier around Dugu Feng and Old Snake.
Dugu Bo's eyes blazed with hatred but deep down, he could already feel it.
The itching. The pressure.
His poison was stirring.
Dugu Shuo's toxins had invaded him the moment they entered the hall.
He'd underestimated this nephew's insanity.
He, Dugu Bo, who had always prided himself on ruthlessness, suddenly realized he'd been outmatched.
His nephew was worse....he was a true madman.
And he had let him in willingly.
Fool. I should've known better.
Dugu Yan's body convulsed on the floor, her breathing ragged.
Dugu Bo froze, panic piercing through his rage. He forced his killing intent down with effort.
"My opportunity," he said through gritted teeth, "lies in the center of the Sunset Forest. There is a place where the poison within the body can be suppressed.
It's yours to use. Just save Yan Yan. Now!"
That was the truth.
Dugu Shuo and Dugu Feng exchanged a glance, relief flashing in their eyes.
It was done.
"Second Uncle is truly wise," Dugu Shuo said smoothly. "Allow me to purge her poison."
He didn't move. He didn't chant or release any spirit skill.
The rhombus mark on his brow shimmered once, and Dugu Yan's breathing eased. Her complexion began to recover.
At the same time, Dugu Bo felt the poison inside his own body subside.
A cold realization washed over him.
He hadn't even noticed when Dugu Shuo's toxins had entered his system.
Could mixed poison truly be so terrifyingly subtle?
Then he suddenly thought of Emperor Xue Ye.
He hadn't sensed that poison either.
For the first time in years, Dugu Bo felt fear.
He had underestimated the Poison branch far too deeply.